Logan

Our Loag...what a Squeezie young man you are. Kind, thoughtful, stubborn, silly, love to sing and dance, and shy all at the same time. You love kindergarten and have flourished since day one. You argue with Leah and try to wrestle with Brady. They're your favorite people still. You highly value time with Daddy and take every opportunity to help him. You don't miss Mom while you're at school but still snuggle when my lap is empty. Your soccer coach tells us that you always show up happy and ready to work hard and learn new skills. Your teacher says you're a light and for that we couldn't be more pleased. Mom gets sad when she sees how tall you are and as your face thins out...but she knows you're just growing into that servant heart. 

 We plan to treasure this next year as you continue to grow. Our prayer is still that God will draw you to Himself early. 

 We love you so much, Logan Ryan!

9 Months

Nine months old, Monk! I simply can't believe it! Here are a few pictures and stats for the books.

You love food. All food. Spicy, sweet, hot, crunchy, salty...all food. 

You've tried a step or two but mostly you run around furniture while holding on. 

You shake your head no, say "mama, dada, and muhmuh for more. More food, that is. 

You're in your own room now and ever since we've bundled you up you sleep for 7 hours! Phew.

Leah and Logan adore you and I think before long you'll be running after them. You love them.

You like the fox song, much to mine and daddy's disappointment. 

You're still very friendly good natured. 

What a joy you are, Monk!

Brady's Birth

 Eight months old and I'm just now recording Brady's birth story! 

 Mom came to stay with Leah and Logan so that Ryan and I could go for my planned induction. I was 39.6 weeks pregnant, but Brady been measuring 43 weeks for the whole month before! Our original start time was pushed back 30 minutes due to no beds being available. I passed the time waiting by recording Brady rolling around in my belly...Ryan slept! 

 We checked in at 8am, and I was at a 4. The nurses started pitocin at 8:30 and at 9, my doctor broke my water. Brady was still high, so my doctor left. I called my mom quickly because with Leah and Logan, 30 minutes after my water was broken, they were both born. 

 I immediately started having intense contractions, very close together. Those contractions turned into back labor and by 11 am, I had reached a 7. Still no epidural. My thoughts being that Leah and Logan were born so quickly, if I was this far along, he would be here any minute and I could make it without. 

 Mom brought Leah and Logan and Grandma Cealie up and we visited. I was checked, still at 7. Bummed but hopeful, the back labor got even more intense so I moved around in bed, sitting, kneeling, rocking, rolling, sure that this was good progress happening. At 2:00pm, I was still at a 7 and  Brady still hadn't dropped. As a matter of fact, he was all on my left side. 

 Unable to think straight anymore, my mom, being the rational voice she is, calmly reminded me that the epidural would help me relax. She also reminded me how much I loved Leah and Logan's deliveries. Ryan and I decided a little after 2 that it was time for the meds.

 I'm so thankful for that decision! I wasn't a 10 until 7 pm! Also, Brady was turned sideways! All that back labor would have continued for 5 more hours. Now that I was ready to push, it turned out that my doctor was across the street at his office...and his fish tank was leaking. And he wasn't ready to come deliver my baby. The nurses were amazing, and stayed calm for about 30 minutes. The right side of my epidural was completely gone and Brady was coming! They told me with a wink that they'd love to catch my baby so if I didn't want to or couldn't wait for my doctor to finish with the fish emergency, to just go for it. At 7:48, the doctor strolled in, I was screaming, "hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" 

 Brady was born at 7:51pm! Not only was he sideways, he was giant. 9lbs, 7oz. 

 Leah and Logan got to come see him for about 3 minutes, my parents and Brother and his wife too. It was a sweet, quick greeting. I felt terrible, they had waited all day at the hospital and Leah and Logan didn't even get to hold him.

 What I thought would be a swift delivery turned into my most difficult and most surprising! (As a side note, I'm learning that Brady has a serious temper and his delivery totally makes sense.) My moose of a boy was so beautiful and warm and big and squeezie! We're smitten!

Check out those paws!

Logan

Conversation today at lunchtime. 

Me: Here's some milk, Loag. 

Logan: Is that Bray's milk? (He calls Brady all kinds of names.)

Me: Yes, but he hasn't been wanting it lately and it's good for you and Leah to have whole milk every once in awhile. It has some good fat in it.

Logan: Is it wife's milk?

Me: Wife's milk?

Logan: Yeah, like a mommy that's married and has a baby...wife's milk.

Me: No, buddy, this is cow's milk, not wife's milk. 

October 2013

This was last year...21 weeks pregnant with Brady.

And here's today. Leah is 7, Logan is 5, and Brady is 7 months. 

So thankful for the blessing of family, traditions and Saturdays with Ryan❤

7 months

Real life has happened and I'm way late on posting this! Just a few shots for his 7 month blogpost...

He's on the move big time..like starting to inch around furniture.

He loves Alfredo pasta, pizza...anything we're eating. 

He got croup and it was pretty scary. Poor baby.

Time is flying...grow slow, little Monk🐒

Need to Delete

Because I want to delete these awful images from my phone, here are the before pictures of our house...

 Inside the kitchen cabinets.

 

Really?!!

Yes, that's fingernail polish that's been wipes under the kitchen island.

I still don't know what this is under the upper cabinets in the kitchen...and it still won't come off. 

And the masterpiece...

The afters will come later. For now just know its clean and I'm mostly ok with Brady crawling around and sucking his thumb...

6 months

This month you started trying all kinds of food! You actually pulled these mashed potatoes from the tray to your mouth.

Had your first big kid swing!

Here you are tolerating your brother and sisters shenanigans...

Discovering water

You're pulling up on furniture. And destroying everything.

Playing with mama.

This perspective helps you look tiny still...

Love you, buddy! Will you please start sleeping longer at night? 

First Thoughts

My first thought..."More laundry!" And then, "how many times have I asked them to put these jerseys into the washer?"

A split second later, my next thought was this: "Enjoy this...soon they'll be all grown up and I'll miss these little jerseys and tiny cleats." 

 They are already 7, 5 and 5 1/2 months old. The seasons keep changing, the clock keeps ticking. Lord, teach me to not be so selfish. Remind me to treasure all of these moments, up in my heart. Even the little stinky shin guard moments. Soon, they'll be big stinky shin guards!

Coffee

I often remind myself how gracious our God was when He chose to give us our five senses. He didn't have to make rain smell good, creeks sound crisp, or fire feel warm. These are expressions of His care and love for His children. 

 I've been enjoying my morning run with Brady these last two weeks. The sunrise and the canal and the cool morning air are intoxicating and im thankful for that time everyday. Due to a too close to home news report, I will be forgoing that routine for awhile. 

 Today I've decided to do some packing and enjoy the morning laying low here at home. I filled up my carafe, peeled back the stay-fresh seal on my new coffee and scooped the grounds into my filter. The smell was powerful. I immediately wished my brother and sisters were here with their kids. I wished we could sit around in unkempt hair and socks and tell the kids to go play with their cousins. Then I remembered Montana and got excited for Colorado. 

 My next thought was my appreciation for the gift of smell and memory recall. My second thought was how blessed I am to have three siblings that I love so much, I desire to spend time with, and are connected to good memories and happy smells. Weird? I don't think so. Just one more mercy from The Father to this child. 

Love you guys!

Thankful

Feeling especially thankful lately. So many beautiful gifts.

Leah's soccer team, who are also her best friends...and their first big win! Leah also earned her first assist!

Brady's first ride in a cart.

Successful first week of school! Pictures through email from my sister that her boys had a good first day of school. 

A nap at soccer practice.

My morning walk/run with Brady, while Leah and Logan get 30 minutes of uninterrupted time with Ryan! 

Thursday afternoons when there is no soccer, just playtime.

Learning to swing...

My sweet new nephew Samuel...what a precious addition to our family!

Quiet time in the morning to read Scripture, sip coffee, and enjoy this home. I'm so blessed. God has given me the desires of my heart.